Fatawu Ganiwu set for Dynamo Kyiv move after remarkable rise from Ghana’s lower leagues

Ghanaian midfielder Fatawu Ganiwu is set to take the next major step in his promising career after agreeing a three-year contract with Ukrainian giants Dynamo Kyiv, Flashscore has reported.

The 18-year-old has completed his medical and signed the necessary contracts, with Dynamo beating several clubs to secure the highly rated central midfielder.

Ganiwu is expected to join the 16-time Ukrainian champions from Ghanaian Division Three outfit AS Koppan, the Accra-based development club where he has been registered for much of his young career.

His move to one of Ukraine’s biggest clubs represents another significant milestone for a player who has already attracted attention from some of Europe’s most prestigious academies.

Chelsea, Salzburg and Premier League clubs took notice

Ganiwu’s potential became evident during a series of trials with elite European clubs, including Premier League sides Chelsea, Bournemouth and Brentford, as well as Austrian powerhouse RB Salzburg.

His experience at Chelsea was particularly significant. The midfielder spent a month at the club’s Cobham training base, working with both the Under-18 and Under-21 teams.

He also featured in youth matches against Manchester United and Sheffield United, giving him valuable exposure to the intensity and standards of elite English academy football.

Although a permanent move to England did not materialise, those opportunities helped establish Ganiwu as one of Ghana’s emerging midfield prospects.

Ghana experience prepared him for Europe

The teenager has also gained senior football experience in Ghana and France through a series of loan spells.

He joined Legon Cities on loan in September 2024, giving him the opportunity to experience Ghana Premier League football before subsequently moving to French Division Two side US Avranches on loan.

Those spells have provided Ganiwu with an important bridge between youth football and the demands of senior competition.

His development has also been closely followed at international level, having represented Ghana across several youth categories.

From Black Starlets glory to Dynamo Kyiv

Ganiwu first attracted significant attention with the Ghana Under-16 side at the UEFA Youth Championship in Serbia.

He played an important role as the Black Starlets stunned hosts Serbia, Spain and Switzerland on their way to winning the tournament, establishing himself as one of the standout players in a talented Ghanaian generation.

He subsequently progressed to the Under-17 setup before earning selection for Maxwell Konadu’s Black Satellites squad at this summer’s WAFU B U-20 Championship in Côte d’Ivoire.

His progression through Ghana’s youth teams has now culminated in a move to one of Europe’s historic clubs.

Champions League stage awaits

Dynamo Kyiv offer Ganiwu an opportunity to continue his development in a high-level European environment.

The Ukrainian giants are competing in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds this season, although Ganiwu is expected to be given time to adapt rather than immediately being burdened with first-team responsibility.

For the Ghanaian teenager, the move represents the latest chapter in a journey that began at a development club in Accra and has already taken him to some of Europe’s biggest football institutions.

At just 18, Ganiwu now has the chance to turn his considerable potential into a career at the highest level.